Constitutional genomic instability, chromosome aberrations in tumor cells and retinoblastoma

Although retinoblastoma (Rb) is initiated as a result of biallelic inactivation of the RB1 gene, additional genetic events (M3) in tumor cells are indicative of their role in the full transformation of retinal cells. We investigated the constitutional genetic instability by fragile site (FS) expression studies and checked its relationship with loci of tumor cytogenetics in a series of 36 retinoblastoma patients (34 nonfamilial and 2 familial cases). Tumor cytogenetics revealed −13/+13, del/t(13)(q14) (50%), +1/del/t(1p/q) (65%), +6/i(6p) (60%), and del(16)(q13)/(q22∼q23) (60%). Conventional cytogenetics in leukocytes revealed constitutional del(13q14) in five unilateral Rb (URB) and one trilateral Rb (TRB). Constitutional del(16)(q22) and t(6;12) were also identified in two cases. Constitutional FS analysis showed a significant increase in the cellular fragility, with high prevalence at 13q14, 3p14, 6p23, 16q22∼q23, and 13q22 loci in retinoblastoma patients (P<0.05). Patients with constitutional del(13)(q14) demonstrated higher fragility than those with normal constitution. A strong correlation between loci of constitutional FSs and loci of recurrent chromosomal abnormalities in tumors strengthen and support the proposal that FS loci present as inherent genomic instability in retinoblastoma. The chromosomal changes and resultant genetic mutations, along with RB1 mutation events, probably contribute synergistically to the development and progression of Rb malignancy. Implementation of fluorescence in situ hybridization to nonfamilial Rb on a large scale (113 cases) could detect constitutional RB1 deletion in 12.3% of cases, with equally higher incidence in URB (14.7%) and bilateral Rb (13.6%), demonstrating that the true prevalence of patients with predisposition to RB1 mutation in sporadic URB is definitely higher in our populations. Also, higher incidence of constitutional RB1 deletion mosaicism in unilateral than in bilateral Rb indicates that the constitutional genetic mosaicism in URB should be given serious consideration during genetic counseling.